Julien Friedler
Encyclopedia
Julien Friedler, born in 1950 in Bruxelles, a writer and contemporary art
ist, is the leading figure in the visual art movement known as be art.
He spent his childhood and adolescence in Brussels. He earns university degrees in philosophy
at La Sorbonne and ethnography
at the Université Libre of Brussels. He then follows a cursus in psychoanalysis
in Paris, adhers to post-structuralist theories of Jacques Lacan
, while starting a personal psychoanalysis with Lacan. He has wide interests and subsequently also trained in jewelery design. In the nineties, he established the "La Moire" in Brussels, an institute which promotes an interdisciplinary approach within the psychoanalytic field. He aimed to break through the constraints of classical psychoanalysis but encountered considerable resistance and ultimately finds himself obliged to leave the psychoanalytical milieu.
In 1994, Friedler starts his artistic career. Self-taught but armed with significant insight into the human character and a fascination for the unknown, he starts painting. He hold awareness and understanding of the chain of events of the second half of the 20th century and, through his art, confronts postmodern contemporary society. He emerges as a charismatic visionary taking a holistic approach while creating an organic
microcosm
, the World of Boz.
; in particular, "The Word of Angels" depicts Friedler's self-conceived language whereby the artist refers to primeval myths that honor the connection between the supernatural and the profane as a theme,. The youth language of graffiti
also appears in some works.
Biographical connotations are frequent and often ambiguous. In order to gain access into Friedler's work, it is necessary to understand some of the significant events in the artist's history and life such as the Shoah
and May 1968
. The artist's visual work takes a central place in the Book of Boz and the content forces him to ultimately present his art to a wider audience and correspondingly also confront the contemporary international art scene.
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
ist, is the leading figure in the visual art movement known as be art.
He spent his childhood and adolescence in Brussels. He earns university degrees in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at La Sorbonne and ethnography
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
at the Université Libre of Brussels. He then follows a cursus in psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
in Paris, adhers to post-structuralist theories of Jacques Lacan
Jacques Lacan
Jacques Marie Émile Lacan was a French psychoanalyst and psychiatrist who made prominent contributions to psychoanalysis and philosophy, and has been called "the most controversial psycho-analyst since Freud". Giving yearly seminars in Paris from 1953 to 1981, Lacan influenced France's...
, while starting a personal psychoanalysis with Lacan. He has wide interests and subsequently also trained in jewelery design. In the nineties, he established the "La Moire" in Brussels, an institute which promotes an interdisciplinary approach within the psychoanalytic field. He aimed to break through the constraints of classical psychoanalysis but encountered considerable resistance and ultimately finds himself obliged to leave the psychoanalytical milieu.
In 1994, Friedler starts his artistic career. Self-taught but armed with significant insight into the human character and a fascination for the unknown, he starts painting. He hold awareness and understanding of the chain of events of the second half of the 20th century and, through his art, confronts postmodern contemporary society. He emerges as a charismatic visionary taking a holistic approach while creating an organic
Organic
Organic may refer to:* Of or relating to an organism, a living entity* Of or relating to an organ- Chemistry :* Organic matter, matter that has come from a once-living organism, is capable of decay or the product of decay, or is composed of organic compound* Organic chemistry, chemistry involving...
microcosm
Microcosm
Microcosm may refer to:* Macrocosm and microcosm, a philosophical idea* Microcosm , a museum near Geneva, Switzerland* Microcosm , a 1993 shoot 'em up by Psygnosis* Microcosm Ltd, a UK software protection company...
, the World of Boz.
Literature
During his career, he writes numerous articles and books which find both wide and critical acclaim in the specialized press. In 2003, he set out to write a book which is not a regular scientific discourse but a literary work of truly epic proportion entitled "Book of Boz". The Book of Boz is simultaneously a novel and a work of poetry and prose written for its most part as a dialogue. The story unfolds in the 20th century, in the present and in a fictitious future. The main characters are three clowns: Jack Balance, the scribe himself and the Mirror Man.Visual work
Some paintings are built up in a neo-expressionist style. Others have a shamanic stick figures who glow with inner energy or are lined with quasi primitive symbols that resemble Egyptian hieroglyphsHieroglyphs
Hieroglyph or hieroglyphics may refer to:*Anatolian hieroglyphs*Chinese character*Cretan hieroglyphs*Cursive hieroglyphs*Dongba script*Egyptian hieroglyphs*Hieroglyphic Luwian*Mayan hieroglyphs...
; in particular, "The Word of Angels" depicts Friedler's self-conceived language whereby the artist refers to primeval myths that honor the connection between the supernatural and the profane as a theme,. The youth language of graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
also appears in some works.
Biographical connotations are frequent and often ambiguous. In order to gain access into Friedler's work, it is necessary to understand some of the significant events in the artist's history and life such as the Shoah
Shoah
Shoah may refer to:*The Holocaust*Shoah , documentary directed by Claude Lanzmann * A Shoah Foundation...
and May 1968
May 1968
The May 1968 protest refers to a particular period in French history. It was historically significant for being the first wildcat general strike ever, and for being the largest general strike ever, bringing the economy of an advanced industrial country to a virtual standstill. It commenced with a...
. The artist's visual work takes a central place in the Book of Boz and the content forces him to ultimately present his art to a wider audience and correspondingly also confront the contemporary international art scene.
Association
In 2008, Friedler created a contemporary art association called Spirit of Boz which coordinates the Be Boz Be Art programme consisting of a portfolio of cultural and artistic projects conceived upfront as art "for and by the masses". The association is a platform on which Friedler operates instead of the art scene and in doing so makes art accessible for a wide audience, where art is least expected or entirely out of place. In that context, art is used as a vehicle for improving social cohesion.Books and print
- Mosaïque (1982) ISBN 2867050065
- L'ombre du rabbin (1985) ISBN 286705043X
- Psychanalyse et neurosciences : La Légende du Boiteux (1995) ISBN 2130469094
- L'ivrogne (1998) ISBN 2912668042
- Tiresias (1998) ISBN 2854462467
- L'œil d'Œdipe (2004) ISBN 2130540600